That the Peninsula is enjoying a golden era for professional baseball talent was evident Tuesday during the fourth annual Poquoson High School Baseball Benefit Golf Tournament at the Kiln Creek Country Club.

Former Poquoson standout Chad Pinder was there, fresh off of a season in which he played in 87 games as an infielder and outfielder for the Oakland Athletics and hit 15 home runs. Kyle Crockett, the ace pitcher for those Poquoson state championship teams of 2009 and ’10 that included Pinder, pitched in only four games for the Cleveland Indians this past season but made 107 appearances for them before turning 26 this month.

Also on hand was Jake Cave, who, like Mark Montgomery, played on a youth team with Crockett and Pinder. Cave, an outfielder, was recently added to the New York Yankees’ 40-man roster, while relief pitcher Montgomery signed a minor league contract this month that includes an invitation to major-league spring training with the Detroit Tigers.

Not at the tournament were six other Peninsula-area high school products who played professional baseball in 2017. That group includes Pinder’s teammate Jharel Cotton — a Menchville graduate who was 11-10 in 29 pitching starts for Oakland the past two seasons — and his younger brother, Chase Pinder, a Poquoson alum drafted in June out of Clemson.

“It’s really cool to look around and see that,” Chad Pinder said of the professional success area products are having in the pros. “It started with that Pilots team of 10-year-olds – me, Kyle, Jake and Mark.

“That the foundation of that young group is still playing is pretty cool. Kyle and I have played in the majors and Jake and Mark are on the cusp, more than deserving of being there and literally knocking on the door.”

Cave said, “A lot of these guys here (at the golf tournament) we played with or against, and it made us better. It’s fun to see us having some success.”

Cave had something of a breakthrough season in 2017, batting .324 with 15 home runs in 72 games for the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Even so, the door he’s knocking on won’t be easy to open in New York, where the outfield talent goes beyond superstars Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

Cave, who played in high school for Hampton Christian Academy and Kecoughtan, is undeterred.

“Good players play. I started off last season on the (disabled list), played my butt off and ended up having a great season,” he said. “I just feel like if I keep playing my butt off, I’ll get my shot.”

Some speculated Montgomery would get a shot this past season with the St. Louis Cardinals. Once a top relief pitching prospect of the Yankees because of his 98 mph fastball and unhittable slider, Montgomery’s stock dropped when he was slowed by arm trouble.

But, while his velocity isn’t what it once was, he rebounded in 2017 at Triple-A Memphis with a 5-1 record and improved control underscored by his 73 strikeouts versus 15 walks in 66 2/3 innings. He hopes to build on that with the Tigers.

“I had a great year last year with a healthy amount of innings, and I’m just excited to put that past me and move on,” said Montgomery, who played at Bruton High. “I think I’ve put in my time (in the minors), and getting to free agency was good for me to pick and choose which positions were beneficial for me.

“I think Detroit’s going to be a good opportunity for me.”

Crockett feels similarly about the Cincinnati Reds, who picked him up after he was waived recently by the Indians. He was thrilled to have been a part of the Indians’ run that came within a victory of a world championship in 2016, pitching in 29 games that season.

But, after bouncing back and forth from Cleveland to Triple-A Columbus often as a left-handed specialist since 2014, Crockett is looking for a more permanent place in the big leagues.

“I think (being with the Reds) gives me a good chance,” he said. “It’s a young team that doesn’t have as much experience in their bullpen as Cleveland had.

“If I go out in spring training and compete well, I think there’s a good chance of making the team. If I don’t have to look over my shoulder about trying to stay in the majors so much, and get a consistent amount of appearances, I think that will make me a lot more comfortable.”

Pinder is probably best poised among area players for a lengthy stay in the majors because he can be plugged in by the A’s to virtually any position, save pitcher or catcher. He says the highlight of his 2017 season was playing in Baltimore.

“That was the final ‘pinch-me’ moment because I grew up going to games at Camden Yards,” said Pinder, who has played in 102 games for the A’s since his call-up in late 2016. “Playing in the field and looking into the stands, as opposed to being in the stands and looking down, to me that was my final `You belong here, now try to stay.’ ”

He and Crockett are Poquoson Islanders to stay as well. Both say that what they took from the program was important to their becoming the first Peninsula high school players to play in the majors since Phoebus High graduate Wayne Gomes with the Phillies in 2002.

“Poquoson was definitely a big part of my achievement,” Crockett said. “Coach (Kenny) Bennett (the Islanders’ head coach) pushed me to be the best player I could be.

“Those were some of the best times of my life.”

Pinder said, “I learned at Poquoson to have fun with baseball, day in and day out. Our practices were so much fun, and Coach Bennett instilled in us to go out and have fun.

“I look back on that at times when I’m playing now and have to remind myself at the end of the day it’s just a game.”

Because of that, Crockett’s dad, Gary Crockett, and Pinder’s dad, Chris Pinder, began the increasingly successful PHS golf tournament. Bennett, former assistant Doug Green, Glen Parker and Shannon Sealey have played key roles in growing the event to nearly 100 players in three years.

Chris Pinder, Chad Pinder, Montgomery and Daniel Carver combined to shoot a 57 for first place.

“We had a great core group in the program, great players, parents, coaches and fans,” Chris Pinder said. “Everyone wants to give back.”

O’Brien can be reached by phone at 757-247-4963 and on Twitter @MartyOBrienDP